UA-NYC

That generally applies to over-water legs. Too much of a gamble for me IMO to hope you can get them returned domestically.

Kacee

ps is not yet sold as a BF route. So if I were you I would call and have the GPUs applied only to the transcon segments. You can then apply them to the PSP-LAX segments if/when the transcon clears.

skymaster

I am trying to find out the meaning of the various references to cabin and inventory availability (e.g. such notes as "Z", "R9", etc.) that I find in these threads, and their significance when it comes to RPU and booking when you hope to use and RPU or GPU. How do you know what fare class is being offered, or if there are more than one, how you select the one that is likely to get an RPU upgrade, etc. I have had bad luck with RPU and find that when I do get it (I am a 1K) is is often on a flight that is far from full, and where even Golds have been upgraded, so I would have been upgraded without the RPU, but they took it away from me anyway, a waste of a "perk" that I am not sure is worth much in any event.

JVPhoto

You need to go to your search preferences and enable Expert Mode (this blog shows you how: http://boardingarea.com/onemileatati...s-expert-mode/)
And then you can see that Fare Class will change color when you are searching for flights and you can hover over for inventory. To put it short if you are looking to purchase Economy and use a GPU for BusinessFirst you have to purchase the Economy ticket in W fare or higher and want to look for R space being high for the chance of near instant upgrade once you apply the GPU.

Other people here or blogs can explain it better.

WineCountryUA

additionally suggest referencing http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...uckets-ua.html

janehoya

After several years of enjoying C and F due to his overly-generous employer, my husband recently switched companies and finds himself in Y for all flights and so for the first time he has applied a GPU to upgrade from Y to C after having previously only using GPU's on LH C to F (good times ).

So, on a flight SFO-LHR I called up UA and he was confirmed in BF on the outbound leg and waitlisted on the way back. However, the agent charged him $110.50 (she said it was roundtrip but it is pending twice on his CC). She claims it is an LHR airport tax charged because he is travelling in C. Does this sound correct?

Thanks for your assistance.

Baze

That is correct. When you upgrade going to/from LHR you pay the LHR tax for C even if wait listed. You get it back if don't clear.

janehoya

Thank you so much for your post. It's a sad world we live in when I take your word over the UA agent's.

EmailKid

And of course as with all things United, you may have to call if it does not clear - like the RPU I sponsored for a friend

Then again, many of us are more knowledgeable, especially the Manila agents

maduarte

Quick question - probably already answered but couldn't find this - for an upgradeable leg, at this point in time (Jan'14) is it better to keep checking for availability in R fare and apply the GPU when it appears, or rather to waitlist the upgrade? If the latter, does one still need to call UA to process the waitlisted upgrade when R becomes available?

janehoya

Sorry, but I have a follow-up question. Why did my husband never have to pay a fee when upgrading from C to F on LH to FRA/MUC? Is it because they don't have a similar tax to LHR's or because LH would eat the fee?

My husband also sponsored friends from Y to C on LH once and they didn't pay a fee either.

Baze

This is a specific LHR fee when terminating or originating at LHR. Or maybe a UK fee.

mahasamatman

Yes.

I'm pretty sure it's LHR only.

janehoya

Thank you.

WineCountryUA

I go the waitlisted approach. I have had very few issues of waitlist not clearing if R>0 and I have waitlist clear when R never was >0. Plus you lose priority based on time of request. Once you get with T-24, things are different and watching is needed.

Not waitlisting far out is a foolish approach in my mind.

The German tax structured differently and is less (and believe F & Business are the same fee -- so no additional for F). LHR (APD) & CDG taxes are larger especially for the premium cabin. some are arrival taxes, some are departure taxes, usually transition through the airport is untaxed.